"Keep all defenses up on maximum until we can get to the bottom of this," General Indro commanded.
"That will come at a great cost," another general warned him, referring to the consumption of energy.
"The lives of my citizens are more important," Indro said reproachfully. "Everyone's free to go!"
The room quickly emptied. Marcius turned his back to Indro and took a couple of steps towards the exit when the general called after him:
"Everyone except for you."
Marcius turned and looked at him apologetically. For many months now he'd carefully avoided the ruler, but this time he wasn't getting out of it.
Come closer," he said, softer this time.
Marcius came up to the table, coming to a stop across from him. He could barely look him in the eyes. Just as before, he was petrified by an overwhelming sense of shame.
"How are you doing?" Indro asked.
Marcius gave a deep sigh.
The general was still kind to him, even though he didn't deserve it. Several years ago, Marcius committed a serious transgression, and ever since then has not been able to justify himself. He'd stolen a spacecraft and wanted to fly off in search of his cherished world, the one he'd seen in his visions, but he was stopped, punished, and afterwards degraded to the rank of a common pilot. Since the death of Marcius' parents, Indro's family had brought him up as one of their own, up until he reached adulthood. Only his connection to general Indro had saved him from being exiled into satellite prison on Aiax.
"Are you still haunted by your visions?" the general quietly asked.
"No," Marius replied dryly, lowering his eyes to the floor.
The ruler smiled deviously.
"You always lower your eyes when you lie. So they're still with you," he concluded.
"I know the lengths you went to in order to try and help me," muttered Marius, quietly and stiffly. "But it was all in vain, I'm sorry. The visions come to me daily. They've only gotten stronger - more bright and colourful."
"I'd like to admit," declared the general with unexpected straightforwardness, "I'd really want for your visions to be an actual world and not a figment of your imagination. For if they are to be trusted, this world of yours is perfectly suited for humans."
"Perfectly," Marcius repeated after him.
"But there's nothing to suggest that it's real," said the general with a shrug.
"Yes, I have no proof, but I feel it," said Marcius, "It's hard for me to explain, but I just know!"
"It would be very useful for us if it were true. The cities are getting older, the systems are crumbling, the development of the planet is coming along too slowly, and your world would be just the thing. But I can't just let you blindly wander off into the unknown," said the general.
Marcius' whole demeanor wilted. "If only there was proof," he thought.
"It's probably very far away, seeing as we've already explored all the nearby systems, and none of them are suitable for us," Marcius suggested. "If only you'd send me off to search," he pleaded.
"I can't send you on a search, but I'll have to send you off elsewhere" said the general. There's fantasy, and then there are problems of vital importance. What happened today is clearly the work of our enemies.
"Where are you sending me?" asked Marcius.
"If we can't determine the cause of the malfunction ourselves, then our agents will help us. I'll send people to the stations and to other worlds. You'll be dealing with one of our most difficult contacts. It's your chance to redeem yourself. If you manage, then I'll reestablish you in the Council."
Marcius was paying close attention. He did want to receive a second chance and return to the Council. Indro continued:
"There is a person that can tell us who attacked us today. He is an old man named Iza. He is a spy, a runaway criminal from Iona. He's been with us for a long time. Have you heard of him?"
Marcius was taken aback by the question. Old man Iza was famous - all the military on Tulona knew who he was. He was wanted on all seven planets.
"I've heard of him," Marcius replied.
"Then you probably know how hard he is to find."
Marcius nodded. The general continued.
"Ionian forces have located him on Girius, and asked for our help to catch him. Your job is not only to find him, but to turn him in. The old man betrayed Tulona! We found out that he was selling sensitive information to the Krameans."
Marcius was filled with anger towards the old man. Anyone that collaborated with the Krameans was a personal enemy of his.
The general noticed the blood rushing to his face and smiled.
"Don't forget to find out the identity of the attacker, and then eliminate the criminal yourself or give him up to the Ionians. If they find him first, then ask for a chance to speak with him. For that we've already been granted permission."
Marcius made sure to remember everything. On Iona, the old man had been sentenced to death. One way or another, death awaited him.
"I won't let you down," he replied.
"You and your partner are flying out tomorrow at dawn. Headquarters will provide you with any additional information," Indro commanded, and waved his hand towards the door.
Marcius bowed and left. By partner Indro was referring to Karii, but he didn't bother to remember the name. Karii wasn't a member of the ruling dynasties and so was of no interest to the general. Nonetheless, ever since childhood, it was Karii that was Marius was always paired up with, and together they had already completed more than one hundred missions. Karii's parents were also in the military, although not part of the elite. It made no difference, really - the main thing was that they were alive and loved him.
As soon as Marcius left the general, he headed in the direction of the observatory, knowing that his friend would not have left Gayla all by herself in such a difficult time. All around him he could see traces of the recent malfunction. In pitch darkness, the citizens were collecting fragments of capsules from the streets and fishing them out of the lake. The capsules were structured in a very particular way. A round core on the inside could fit either two or four people, and on the outside it was coated with a thick layer of ferromagnetic liquid, held flush to the core by magnetic forces. When the capsules were still they looked like a glittering silver orb, and when moving - like a drop of liquid. Broken ones looked like a pile of scrap metal in a puddle of mercury, as was the case for most on this particular evening. People collected the ferromagnetic liquid into containers, lighting their way with rays of white light. The city remained in a state of emergency - a wise decision, since no one knew if the strange force was to return.
Karii stood solemnly by the door. Seeing Marius, he cheered up, but nonetheless started off with a complaint:
"She kicked me out!"
"Don't bother her now, her career is hanging by a thread," said Marcius.
"Did Indro say anything about her?" his friend asked anxiously.
"No - but you know what happens to those that disappoint him," Marcius replied, and then added," Come on, we need to get a good night's sleep. We leave tomorrow at dawn!"
"We got assigned a mission?" Karii asked cautiously.
"Yes, and not just any mission! But all that tomorrow. Now - sleep!"
Not wasting any more energy or words, they both went home. Ari was all stirred up and excited that night, and few could sleep, but Marcius was no stranger to such conditions. He was used to stress and could make himself fall asleep in any situation. The magnetic attack did not seem any worse than any previous one - on the contrary, it was even elegant in its own way. The enemy's weapons continued to evolve, forcing everyone to tread the difficult and inhumane path of progress.